Cyclades Guide - Escale Yachting

N A X O S
Naxos is the largest and most fertile island of the Cyclades. Its long
history, the important monuments but also its vivid tourism life have
put it in a special position among the other Cycladic islands. No
matter how many days you spend in Naxos, there will always be
something to discover, beaches you haven't seen, towers and
castles you haven't visited yet, ancient temples whose secrets are
yet unknown.
Naxos has a very rich natural environment with many rare species
of fauna and flora, and diverse landscapes: the two tallest
mountains of the Cyclades (Zeus, Koronos), coastal and hilly
wetlands, sandy beaches with dunes and cedars, olive groves,
valleys and, to the north, large areas with terraces.
Useful information
According to tradition, the first inhabitants of the island were from
Thrace. Later on the island was inhabited by the Carians whose
leader, Naxus, gave his name to the island. Excavations show that
Naxos had already been inhabited since the Neolithic period, while
during the Early Cycladic period it had several important
settlements, playing a leading role in the growth of the Cycladic
civilization. The geological resources of the island have produced
two famous products: marble, which was used for Cycladic
figurines and ancient kouroi, and emery, which contributed to the
flourish of sculpting in Naxos, as it was used for the final polishing
of works.
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